The Weathermakers (1967) by Ben Bova

Author:Ben Bova [Bova, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

12. Shifting Winds

I THREW things blindly into my travel bag while the rain streamed down the window of my room. Clothes, shoes, shaving gear, everything stuffed in as fast as I could pull it from drawers and shelves.

The door buzzer sounded. “It’s open!” I yelled.

Barney stepped in. “Jerry, isn’t it wonderful! The rain . . .”

She stopped when she saw what I was doing. She stood by the doorway in a dripping raincape and pushed a lock of glistening hair back away from her face.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes,” I said, still packing.

“Because of Ted.”

“Right again.”

I walked into the bathroom to check the medicine cabinet. Everything was cleared out.

“When are you going?”

“On the first flyable machine that’s heading for Hawaii.”

Barney let the cape slip off her shoulders and drop on the chair by the door.

“I suppose I don’t blame you,” she said.

“That’s generous.”

“Jerry, don’t be sarcastic.”

“Why not? I thought you like guys who are sarcastic, and tough, and throw temper tantrums.”

“I don’t like people who run away.”

I slammed the travel bag shut. “What do you expect me to do? Sit at my desk and count money while you and Ted soar on to new heights of scientific marvels? What’s left for me to do around here? Nothing. Ted’s got what he wants and you’ve got what you want. So I’ll go back home and try to forget the whole mess.”

“What do you mean, I’ve got what I want?”

“Ted’s back with you, isn’t he? You’re together every day now; working side by side for sweet science. Just the two of you, with your Asiatic sidekick. The little rich boy from the islands has outlived his usefulness.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I saved his neck when he was ready to throw in the towel. Now he doesn’t need me any more. And as long as he’s with you, you don’t need me any more either. So why should I hang around? Just to watch his rain fall?”

“If that’s true, Jerry,” she said, “then why did I come here?”

I didn’t have an answer for that one.

“If you can talk quietly for a few minutes,” she said, going to the sofa, “perhaps I can show you how wrong you are.”

“I’m wrong?”

“Ted’s an unforgivable lout,” she said, “there’s no argument about that. The way he treated you was shameful. But if you’ll listen to me for a minute, I think you’ll see why he’s the way he is.”

“I don’t want any amateur psychoanalysis of the young genius,” I snapped.

“No, you’d rather run away home and hide behind your father I”

Her voice was suddenly sharp with real anger; I had never seen her angry before.

“Ted treated you horribly, there’s no excuse for it. I expected you to be hurt and mad at him. But I didn’t think you’d be so sorry for yourself.”

“All right,” I said. “Just why did you come?”

“Because Ted owes you an apology, but he’ll never make it himself. So I thought I should.”

“As his chosen representative?”

“You’re being sarcastic again,” she said.

I went over and sat beside her.

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